TLDR
The House Ethics Committee’s investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz has been released. According to the newly released documents, Gaetz allegedly had sexual activity with a minor, frequently did drugs, and accepted inappropriate gifts, including a trip to the Bahamas in 2018. Gaetz is also accused of obstructing the investigation. During the investigation, Gaetz was reportedly uncooperative, refusing to provide documents, testify when subpoenaed, and didn’t directly answer questions when asked.
Gaetz, who served as House Representative for Florida from 2017 until his resignation in November, is known for his strong support of President-elect Trump. Trump had picked Gaetz for AG in his incoming administration, but Gaetz withdrew himself from consideration following scrutiny on November 21st.
The House Ethics Committee’s investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz has been released. According to the newly released documents, the committee found misconduct from 2017 to 2020, including sexual activity with a minor, drug use, and accepting inappropriate gifts.
Gaetz is also accused of obstructing the investigation. During the investigation, Gaetz was reportedly uncooperative, refusing to provide documents, testify when subpoenaed, and didn't directly answer questions when asked.
Legal grounds for investigating Gaetz include Section 1591 of Title 18 (the Mann Act), Florida state laws on statutory rape and drug possession, and House Ethics rules on gifts and conduct.
The committee began to look into these issues on March 30, 2021, after a New York Times report connected to Joel Greenberg, a former Florida tax collector and a friend of Gaetz, sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Greenberg and Gaetz's relationship started in 2017 through SeekingArrangement.com, a site for "sugar dating.".
NOTE: "Sugar dating" is a relationship where someone that's wealthy provides financial support or gifts to another person in exchange for companionship and often (though not always) sex.
The report alleges that between 2017 and 2020, Matt Gaetz made tens of thousands of dollars in financial transactions to women and Greenberg, using platforms like PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp. Text messages showed discussions of payment arrangements, with one woman reporting that 99% of encounters involved sex.
Greenberg's text messages, included in the committee's findings, ‹show his (and Gaetz's) involvement in planning meetings, discussing payment and at one point asking if the woman did Molly (a hallucinogenic drug and MDMA).
